Page 19 of Tempted

She answers on the first ring. “Malcolm.”

“Aye.” I practically snarl.

“It sounds like you’re having just as shitty a day as I am.”

“You guessed right.”

“Would it make your day better if I said to come pick me up at the nursing home?”

I look at the phone. “What the fuck are you doing there?”

“I had to drop off the flowers from the funeral. Moira pissed me off and she’s my ride.”

The nursing home is not far out of my way, and I could use a break. I don’t have any more clients today, just a meeting this afternoon, and in plenty of time for me to go have a late lunch with Clare, not that I’m gung-ho about that or anything. “I’ll be there shortly.” I say and hang up.

I figure that Steph is the lesser of two evils. I leave without saying a word to anyone. The travel time helps to calm me, and by the time I arrive at the home, I’ve come back down to earth. Moira’s car is still parked in the lot, but I see Steph standing on the corner, waiting, phone in hand. “So, you tell me your story and I'll tell you mine, if you like.” She says, unimpressed.

“You doing work on the street corner there?” I ask, only half teasing.

“I’m back and forth with Colton Ford, and I was checking in with my engineering team. I have to get back. I didn’t think that I’d get away with much more time away and I was right.” She states reasonably.

“What did Moira do to piss you off?” I ask her conversationally.

With a sigh, she says. “I’ve just been talking for the last fifteen minutes. How about you go first.”

I frown. “Sure.” I lick my lips. “It’s nothing that I’m not used to. My Uncle Dougall gave me a shitty client a few years ago, and I don’t know who I’d like to kill more; him or the client.”

“What’s so bad about the client?”

I give her the Cole’s notes version. “So, pass him on to someone else.”

“I wish it was that easy. But I might have a solution after lunch.”

“Oh?”

I tell her about Clare. Her face changes. “You? In a relationship?”

“Why does that sound so shocking?” I ask her. I know that she’s not being a bitch. I can tell the difference. She’s just curious.

“Well, you don’t exactly scream long-term relationship material, Malcolm.”

“And how’s that? I haven’t slept withyou, and you’ve all but thrown yourself at me.”

“So, abstinence is the key to a successful long-term relationship?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. What I mean is that I’m not the type of guy to just bounce from bed to bed. I think that holds more water for a long-term relationship than a guy that does, right?”

That hits a nerve. She changes the subject. “And why are you going out with this girl again if you can’t stand her?”

“Like I said, Steph. It’s to appease my uncle. He might reconsider having me keep Farley on my roster if I do it.”

“I think he means more so if you give things another go with this bitch.” She says with a soft scoff.

I can’t tell what’s going on inside her head, but she seems displeased, and I’m not in the mood for yet another fight today. “Why don’t you tell me what happened with Moira?”

She gives me a look as we pull into the street where Moira’s building is, so that she can pick up her car. “It was a difference of opinion.” She says vaguely, and I know that she’s not going to divulge more, even though that was the deal. Then she surprises me. “Look, can you walk me to my car?”

What happens next shocks the shit right out of me, but not really...

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